TOSCA results

WELCOME ON THE SECTION "TOSCA results overview"

Almost 3 years after the project started, TOSCA has proved capable of improving oil spill tracking systems. TOSCA has brought updated knowledge on surface currents and noticeable progress in the monitoring of oil slick drift. The added precisions and data collection from this project could now help authorities choose the right strategy for the deployment of drifters to track oil spills. This data could facilitate operations at sea as well as practical and administrative decision-making in the defense of coastlines and public health.

The objective of this section is to:

PRESENT...

THE TOOLS AND APPROACHES DEVELOPED IN THE FRAMEWORK OF TOSCA AND HOW THEY CAN BE USED BY ACTORS TO ENHANCE THE MONITORING AND FORECASTING OF A DRIFTING OBJECT.

PROPOSE...

RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE TECHNIQUES IN THE FIELD OF POLLUTION RESPONSE USING NEW TOSCA TOOLS.

THE MAIN PROJECT STEPS AT A GLANCE

An innovative approach

Modeling and forecasting of transport by ocean currents are very sensitive and contingent upon unknown initial conditions, and even small errors in the current results in significant errors in the forecast of a drifting object. For this reason the TOSCA project has framed an innovative approach using HF radars and drifter measurements to provide crucial and complementary information to predict oil spill dispersion and trajectory more accurately.

Creation of the first Mediterranean Observation Network

Images from the radar observing system in the Gulf of Trieste (Italy)

To provide real-time observations and forecasts, an observational network, based on state of the art technology (HF radars, drifters, ocean modeling systems) was installed and assessed in five sites of the Mediterranean sea, on the coastal areas near the outlets of major existing or planned oil pipelines and on high traffic areas.

An intensive observation and experimental period

To test the monitoring and forecasting capabilities of the system, intensive periods of experimentation have taken place in the five test sites from December 2011 until October 2012

Each Sea campaign included

Gathering of a large data set (real observations data)

Testing of the numerical models by comparison with real observations

Test and validation of different equipment to measure surface currents and consequent drifting trajectory.

INTRODUCTION TO THE RESULTS OF THE EXPERIMENTATIONS

The major results of the analysis of the data set obtained during the experimental campaigns prove:

The benefit of HF radars as a powerful tool to provide satisfactory estimation of transport and to improve our response to oil-spill and SAR emergencies.

The benefit of an optimal drifter deployment strategy to be used to correct radar intrinsic errors or enhance models and to get direct information on oil spill transport and dispersion.

The benefit of the TOSCA strategy to enhance numerical models and provide more accurate forecasts of the trajectory of oil spill, a wreckage or a lost person.

Discover more about TOSCA approaches and tools in the dedicated pages: